Last Thursday, Brooklyn rock quartet The Click Clack Boom (pictured) made a special appearance at The Box as part of a fundraiser for aerial arts based emerging film, “Taxiplasm”. A silent auction featuring a variety of local talents’ artwork, including The Click Clack Boom’s very own Joseph Wolf Grazi, served as visual accompaniment to the equally varied musical acts. Following the indie rockers, female vocal troupe Hydra hit the stage, singing Russian folk songs mostly a capella with impeccable flair and precision. Taking a break from musical performances, an aerial demonstration stimulated the senses before the headliner's Mystical Weapons - an improvisational project headlined by Sean Lennon.” Together with drummer Greg Saunier Sean hypnotized the crowd with strobe lights and avant garde electro-jams, comprised of buzzes, beeps, and whirs emanating from unidentified electronic devices, bass/guitar distortions, and eruptions of spastic drums. The evening was a unique collaboration of artists and a rare opportunity that was a privilege to experience. Catch The Click Clack Boom next at Santo’s Party House on Tuesday, June 19 for the Reverbnation New Music Seminar Showcase (Free admission!). http://www.theclickclackboom.com – Meijin Bruttomesso

The Click Clack Boom is one of those rare to find bands that - like good wine - slowly gets better with the years. These guys were already an Alt Rock NYC powerhouse back in 2009, when they played our Best of NYC Fest, but since then their music has veered in a wilder direction, which warms our punky hearts. Check out this lo budget video of their new single Elle Deadsex - but, mostly, focus on the song: a concise, tense and unforgiving punk-rock gem. This is how rockn'nroll is supposed to be. See them at The Mercury Lounge on May 2.

The penultimate day of my fourth SXSW was definitely the longest in my history of SX’s. Arriving at 10:30am at the Elvis Presley-themed Beale Street Tavern to host a show, I was out on the town for 16 hours to follow. Opening the morning, Austin’s Indie-meets-retro rock quartet, Ghost Bunny, and solo, blues-rock multi-instrumentalist and loop-master, Walker Lukens, got the ball rolling. Most attendants woke up and arrived for a bevy of Brooklyn bands: Black Taxi, The Courtesy Tier, and The Click Clack Boom. The string of East Coasters was broken by LA- born Vas Defrans (pictured), who put the sound system to the test with pounding drums and intricate instrumental layering. A laid back local favorite, The Naturals, contrasted with the strobe- light and projection illuminated, electro/dance-rock quartet, Kid Savant who followed suit. NYC’s Hollis Brown closed the afternoon with straight up great blues rock and Southern rock sentiments. Yet another Tex-Mex decompression resuscitated me for an extensive evening of street performances. Renegade rocker, Tom Morello, brought the aggressive music of Black Top Demon, Outernational, Anti-Flag, and Wayne Kramer outside the Swan Dive as part of Occupy SXSW. Morello himself marched into the crowd of hundreds for a finale while police swarmed the area. All ended without any blood shed, but it was an night/early morning to remember! –Meijin Bruttomesso